What an amazing day we had today – an adventure to Miyajima Island, one of Japan’s three most scenic spots and a hike up Mt. Misen.  From our house we started with a five minute bike ride to the Iwakuni train station, then a 25 minute train ride to Miyajimaguchi, and then a 10 minute ferry ride to Miyajima Island.  How’s that for a fun way to start the day?

This O-Torii Gate stands about 200 meters from the front of the main Itsukushima Shrine.  The O-Torii (Grand Gate) is about 16.5 meters high.  It’s roof is 24 meters in length and is made of Japanese cypress bark.  The main pillars, which are 10 meters in circumference, are made of natural camphor trees and the four supporting pillars are of natural cedar.

Beyond the O-Torii is the Itsukushima Shrine, first built in 593 and was remodeled into its present form in 1168.  The vermillion color is considered to keep evil spirits away.

From here we explored the sights and shops around Miyajima village.

Here we came upon the “World’s Larges Rice Scoop.”

Now it was time to start our hike up to the observatory high atop Mt. Misen.  There is a “ropeway” (which we would call a tram) for those who don’t want to do the 1.5 hour hike to the top – which seems to be just about everyone.  There are three main paths to choose.  We picked the middle one which turned out to be straight up.

It was a very cool hike, about 2 kilometers if you didn’t take all the side trails.  Along the way we checked out the Daishoin Temple.

 

And lots more sights along the way.

And up we climbed.

To the top

From here we climbed up to the observatory where we had a 360 degree view of the world!

 

Someone told us there was food at the top but – no food.  So, time to head back down.  This time we took a different path, equally beautiful.

As we near the bottom of the mountain we learn of a great storm (one of many over the years) that caused a lot of damage to the town below and in 2005 an erosion control project was established “in the Japanese garden style.”   “Rocks were strategically placed in streams to encourage the water to flow in certain directions, creating scenes that look more like paintings than nature itself. The water from Momijidani stream flows perfectly down a manicured stream bed and shimmies over a stone wall. The stone wall has evenly spaced troughs of predetermined widths in it to create pleasing water flows” according to Amy Chavez.

Next we came upon a pond with super-sized koi.

Back in the village we had to check out the five-storied Pagoda, built in 1407.  It’s 28 meters high and very pretty.

OK.  We’re officially pooped and hungry.  Time for a

and some fresh grilled

What a great, beautiful day.

And here are some bonus pic’s for you, Eileen, my favorite knitting teacher in San Diego.  More sights along the trail today.